Clinical Psychologist (Drug Abuse Program Coordinator)
Who may apply
Limited to the following applicant groups:
- Internal to an agency
- Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
6 days left to apply
Salary context
Based on 230 annual-salary jobs in the same occupational series. This role pays below most similar positions.
Job Details
Position Overview
Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.Duties
Performs duties consistent with the coordination of approved drug abuse programs, including Non-residential Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Education, Residential Drug Abuse Treatment, and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).Exercises full professional responsibility for his/her findings, interpretations, decisions, recommendations and reports. The incumbent has professional autonomy in directing and supervising all clinical activities and staff in relation to the drug treatment of Bureau inmates, including: testing, test interpretation, clinical diagnosis, clinical staffing of inmates with staff and serving as the institution advocate for drug programs with all staff, including Executive staff.
Responsible for the provision of highly-skilled drug abuse treatment protocols and supervision of all drug abuse treatment staff, is the expert on offender drug treatment and therefore serves as the drug program resource person to other psychologists, staff members, and operating officials.
Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staffs correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.
Qualifications & Requirements
To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:Basic Requirements:
Degree: Satisfactory completion of all the requirements for a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology is required.
NOTE: Applicants may have received this degree in either clinical or counseling psychology.
AND
In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have:
Education:
There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position at the GS-12 and GS-13 levels.
OR
Experience:
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically be in or related to the position to be filled.
Some examples of the qualifying experience are:
- Experience in providing assessment and referral services for individuals with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring disorders.
- Experience in providing individual and/or group treatment to individuals with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring disorders.
- Experience in conducting psychosocial interviews and developing treatment plans for individuals with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring disorders.
- Experience in diagnosing substance use and mental health disorders.
AND
Selective Factor:
Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event that you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position.
- Applicant must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States (e.g., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia.
NOTE: All applicants must electronically upload a copy of their license at the time they apply to the vacancy announcement. The documentation provided MUST show the expiration date of the license. Failure to provide this documentation will result in loss of consideration for this position.
If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.
**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**
Education
ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.
Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.
If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.
Requirements
Career Transition Programs (CTAP): This program applies to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:- Meet CTAP eligibility criteria;
- Be rated well-qualified for the position, scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and
- Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP eligibility:
- A copy of the agency notice (i.e., separation notice or agency RIF letter),
- Most recent performance appraisal, and
- Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location.
- See USAJOBS' Career Transition Programs for more information.
status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: U.S Department of Justice - Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
Key Requirements:
- U.S. Citizenship is Required.
- See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
Evaluations
You will be evaluated based on your assessment score and the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation. Applicants who receive a score of 85 or higher will be reviewed first, and reviews will continue until 10 qualified applicants have been identified. Applicants who receive a score of 75 or below will not be reviewed.Your resume and supporting documents will be compared against your responses to the online assessment to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed in this announcement. If the information in your application materials does not support your assessment responses, your score may be adjusted and/or you may be removed from consideration.
If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
There are several parts of the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application:
- Your resume, which is part of your USAJOBS profile;
- Your responses to the eligibility questions;
- Your responses to the online assessment;
- Your supporting documentation, if required.
Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements for consideration. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
Due Weight for Performance and Awards: Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. Please submit:
- a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation; and
- a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years.
What Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are Required for this Position?
The following Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) are required:
- Ability to conduct psychological assessments
- Ability to make sound decisions and act quickly in critical circumstances.
- Ability to recommend treatment interventions for various disorders
- Ability to supervise and develop the potential of subordinates.
- Knowledge of the substance use treatment specialty area of psychology.
- Skill in conducting individual and group psychotherapy
Required Documents
Failure to provide legible required documents and/or follow the prescribed format often results in removal from consideration. If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc. Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD-214, or Transcripts.- Resume (limited to 2 pages) must include your name, contact information, and relevant experience (cover letter optional).
- Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence of qualifying experience (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF-52, MOU, etc.).
- If providing a memorandum, it must follow the format below AND clearly cite the duties performed.
- To receive credit for experience, your resume and/or any satisfactory evidence must include:
- Start date and end date in month/year format (MM/YYYY) AND
- Number of hours worked per week.
- SF-50: Current or former Federal employees NOT employed by the Bureau of Prisons MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment, tenure group, and salary. If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. If you are applying for a higher grade, and your experience was gained at a Federal agency other than the Bureau of Prisons, you MUST provide the SF-50 Form which verifies the length of time you have been in your highest grade and supports your claim for time-in-grade.
- Proof of CTAP eligibility, Click Here, if applicable.
- College transcript: includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree, and Date Awarded (if applicable).
- NOTE: If you are selected, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.
- A copy of your latest yearly performance appraisal/evaluation.
- Professional Certification/License
We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.
How to Apply
How do I Apply for this Position if I am a Current Public Health Service Commissioned Officer?
If you are a current Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Officer, you may apply using one of the two options below depending on whether you are applying as a PHS officer or seeking to enter the competitive service.
Option 1: Apply as a Current Public Health Service Commissioned Officer (Not Entering Competitive Service)
- Submit a complete/detailed resume or curriculum vitae.
- Limit your resume to 2 pages. If the only resume(s) received is/are longer than two pages, your application is ineligible for further consideration.
- Address selective factor(s), if required.
- Resume or curriculum vitae must contain all information listed in the Qualifications Section.
- Submit supporting documents (transcripts, certification, registration, license, if applicable).
Your completed application packet must be submitted directly to the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m. EST on 08/25/2026 of the vacancy announcement - packet must be E-mailed to [email protected].
You must include the last four digits of your social security number and the vacancy announcement number on your application packet. Do not submit an application online.
Option 2: Apply as a Public Health Service Commissioned Officer Seeking to Enter the Competitive Service
If you wish to apply under competitive examining procedures see below:
You must apply through the online application system at www.USAJOBS.gov. Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions and submit all required documents.This position may require the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described under the Required Documents section. Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered for employment.
USAJOBS Help Center - How to Add a Resume to Your Profile
All required supporting documentation MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on 08/25/2026.
If applicable see Notice for Preference Eligible Veterans Applicants
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13041241
We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the application process has been completed. Normally, Selecting Officials will make a selection within 90-days. When deemed necessary, the selection process may be extended up to 180-days from the date the certificate(s), (Exception, Best Qualified Lists) is/are generated to make a selection.